Apparatus for electrical exploration



NOV# 28, 1944. D. s. MUzzEYQJR., ET AL 2,363,937

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICAL EXPLORATION Filed Sept. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet' Fig. 2A

lnvznors: David Saville Muzzeg., Jr'.

Robzrr 'Du Waqnz Miller Nov. 28, 1944. D. s. MUZZEY, JR., ET AL 2,363,937

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICAL EXPLORATION Filed Sept. 8, 1941` 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. s

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Nov. `28, 1944. D. s. MUzzEY, JR., ETAL 2,363,987

APPARATUS Fon ELECTRICAL EXPLORATION Filed sept; 8, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 5 "1m/enfers: David Saville Muzzzg, Jr.

Rober-*Duwagnz Miller Patented Nov. 28,

UNITED sTMEsv PATE-NT OFFICE APrARA'rUs Fon ELECTRICAL nxrLonA'rIoN David Saville Muzzey, Jr., and Robert Dn Wayne Miller, Houston, Tex., assignors to Shell Development Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application September 8, 1941, Serial No. 410,010 n s claims. (cl. risa-182) This invention relates to a` system of synchronous commutation, and has particular application in methods of geophysical exploration of underground formations, wherein an electric current commutated by Aelectronic-means is passed through the earth strata between grounded current electrodes, while the potential difference generated in the earth by said current. or due to other causes, is measured between grounded potential electrodes by, means of suitable indicatingdevices.

In exploring the ground by means of commutated direct current, it is customary to use socalled synchronous commutators, adapted to reverse in synchronism, and at a `desired fre` quency, the connections between the. source of current and the current electrodes, and the cony nections between the indicating devices and the potential electrodes.

The mechanical commutators used for this purpose and described, for example, in -U. S. Patents, 1,813,845 and 2,204,436, are, however, inherently subject to considerable drawbacks, such as diillculties in mechanically maintaining a frequency of highly constant order which is essential for purposes of geophysical exploration; relatively small range of permissible frequencies, as a mechanical commutator gives satisfactory hperation in exploration work onlynear the` frequency for which it has been designed; vsparking ,dfilcu'tiea4 which are usually aggravated with time and wear, andwhich give rise to undesirable transient effects; insuiiiciently fast switching, giving an undesirably long current-olf time and resulting in an imperfect square-shape wave form, etc.

It is therefore anrobject of this invention to provide for purposes of electrical exploration an electronic commutatonl free of the above defects.

It is also an object -of this invention to pro-1 vide an electronic commutator capable oi delivperiods may; be reduced to extremely small values, such as 0.001 second.

'I'here and other objects and features of this invention will be Iunderstood from the following description taken with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 -is a diagram showing the general arrangement of' the electrical elements and units forming the system of the present invention;

Fig. 1A is a graph showing the relationship in time and the waveform of the pulses produced in the several units of the present system;

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the master oscillator unit shown at I in Fig. 1;

Y Fig. 2A is a Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of the ring counter unit shown at 4 in Fig.;1;

Fig. 4 is a. circuit diagram of the counter unit shown at I0 in Fig. 1;

tor unit shown at I l inFig. `1.

ering a commutated current of highly constant frequency, controlled by means such, for example, as a tuning fork. l

It is also au object of this invention to provide an electronic commutator of flexible frequency characteristics, capable of delivering. commu tated currents of different predetermined con-.

stant frequencies within a very wide range, such as from about one-half to about 25 cycles or more.

double-throw switch generally indicated at I II,-

It isalso an object of this invention to provide an electronic commutator capable of extremely fast switching action, whereby current-olf time 'Ihe manner in which the present system may be. used for purposes of electrical explorationmay be seen from Fig. 1, which shows diagrammatic-ally the general arrangement of the units or elements forming saidsystem.

A source of direct current, such as a generator or battery I 8 is connected to grounded current electrodes C; and Cz through a commutator unit or circuit 9, it being understood that more than one electrode may-be connected to either or both ,output terminals of said unit by means of switches or other suitable connections,v as shown, for example, at C. I

`Grounded potential electrodes P1 and P2, which may be placed in any desired position with regard to the current electrodes to detect the potentials induced in the ground by the current owing therethrough between .electrodes C1and Cz, are connected to an indicating device Il by means of a relay operated double-pole,

the indicating device being also provided with a short-circuiting relay operated switch generally indicated' at It.

Suitable indicating instruments, resistances or 'impedances shown at A, A1, V. R and R1 may beinserted in the circuit oi the current electrodes to indicate and to vary the potentials and intensity o1' the current flowing between said face view of the disc shown at 34-in t electrodes, as will be readily understood by those familiar with electrical exploration methods.

Actuating impulses for the operation of the commutator 9 and switches III and I9 are provided by a master oscillator unit I, which may have its own supply of electric power, or may derive said power from source I6. Said impulses are applied to the commutator 9 and relays III and I9 through a ring counter unit 4, counter unit IIJ and relay operator unit II.

If the present system is used according to a method such as described in U. S. 2,172,557, wherein only current electrodes are used for exploration purposes, that part'of the above circuit comprising electrodes'Pi and P2, relay operator II, switches III and I9 and indicating device 26 may be vdispensed with.

The master oscillator unit shown at I ,'which v may be of the relaxation type as will be described hereinbelow, furnishes Osharp voltage pulses at a frequency which'is controlled and may be maintained at a predetermined constant value by the operator. The character of the pulses from the master'oscillator I is shown at a in Fig. 1A.

The voltage pulses from the master oscillator I are transmitted over lines 2 and 3 to a ring counter unit 4. The ring counter unit 4 sends voltagev pulses over line 8 and lines 5, 6 and 1 in sequence, line 8 being common to the circuits of the three lines 5, 6 and 1. The pulses from ring counter 4 are each initiated by a pulse from the oscillator I, and follow each other in continued succession at intervals which are integral multiples of the intervals between pulses originating in oscillator I.` For example, withv one specific arrangement of the ring counter unit 4, the first pulse from oscillator I will initiate a short duration pulse between conductors 5 and 8the second pulse will initiate similarly a pulse between conductors 6 and 8, and the third a pulse between 1 and 8, after which the cycle will repeat itself, so that there will be a short duration volt-v age pulse between wires 5 and 8' on the rst, fourth, seventh, tenth, etc., pulses from the master oscillator, similar pulses' between wires 6 and 8 on the second, fifth, eighth and eleventh, etc., master oscillator pulses, and between wires 1 and 8 on the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth, etc.,

, master oscillator pulses as shown at b, c and d in Fig. 1A. It is understood that this description refers to the simplest example of the action of the ring counter unit, and that by using more tubes in said unit, any other timing intervals and sequences may be provided, as will be explained in describing the detailed arrangement of the master oscillator and ring counter units.

The short; duration pulses over lines 5 8 from ring counter 4 act on a counter I8 for alternately turning on and off current pulses which are fed from said counter Ill to a thyratron commutator 9 and a relay III over lines I4 I5 and I 4a I5a, respectively. Each of the pulses from counter I lasts therefore over a period of time equal to the time between two consecutive short pulses over lines 8 from ring counter 4, and the interval between them is also equal to the time between two consecutive pulses over lines 5 8, as shown at Patent substantially square wave-shape alternating current which is then led over lines 2li-2| to current electrodes Ci and C2.

The current pulses originating in counter I0 also serve to actuate the double-pole, doublethrow relay I I I, to which they are conveyed over lines I4a l5a. When current is flowing in lines I4a, I5a, the relay III operates to connect the leads 22 and 23 from the potential electrodes P1 and P2 with the leads 25 and 24, respectively, of the indicating device 26. When no current flows in lines I4a l5a, the armature of relay IIIl springs. back to connect elements 22 and 23 with elements 24 and 25, respectively, thereby reversing the connections between the potential electrodes and the indicatingdevice. ner, pulses originating `in counter IIl simultaneous'ly or in synchronization commutate the current supplied to the current electrodes by thyratron commutator 9, and reverse the connections Vof the potential' electrodes to the indicating i next pulse over lines 1 8, no current flows over lines I 2 I3 to the relay I9. When current is supplied to relay I 9, the normally open contact of this relay is closed, short-circuiting the indicating device 26, through lines 24a and 25a. Thus the indicating device 26 is made inoperative during the interval between the arrival to the relay operator II of a pulse over lines '1 8- and that of a pulse over lines 8 8. This inoperative period covers the instant during which the main current from .generator I6 is reversed by the thyratron commutator 9 and the connections to the indicating device are switched by the relay II I, namely,

the instant at which a pulse is sent by ring counter 4 over lines 5 8. This short-circuiting action extending over a period covering the switching operations prevents transient eiects associated with these operations from disturbing the indicating device.

The cooperation between the various effects obtaining in this commutation system may perhaps be better understood with reference to Fig. 1A, giving a graph of the nature and relationship in time of the pulse outputs ofY the several component units of the system. The common abscissa for all the graphs used in Fig. 1A is time. The

ordinates represent the Voltage impressed across thev lines, as shown, or the current owing therein.

The upper graph, a, shows the timing and ap.

proximate shape and duration of the voltage pulses supplied by the master oscillator I to the ring counter 4 over lines 2 3.

Graphs b, c and d show the timing and approximate shape and duration of the voltage pulses supplied by the ring counter 4 over lines 5 8,

6 8, and 1 8, respectively.

mutating the direct current supplied thereto over Graph e shows the timing and` approximate duration of the current pulses sent by the counter I0 over lines I4,- I5, Ila and I5a.

Graph f shows the timing, shape and duration of the current pulses sent by the relay operator I I over lines I2 I3.

Graph g shows the timing and approximate In this vmann 'wave form of the commutated current fed from n the thyratron commutator 9 to the currentelectrodes C1 and C: over lines 20 -2I. z

Finally, graph h shows the timing of the connections of lines 22-23 from potential electrodes P1 and P2 to, lines 24--25 from the indicating device resulting from the action of relays III and I9.

With the above general description of the whole system, and of the purpose and role o each component unit in mind, the organization and operation of said component units will be described with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that there may be several ways in which each'of said units may be constructed -to fulll-its purpose, as will be .obvious to those skilled in the art of electronics. Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of a relaxation oscillator unit, such as shown at in Fig. 1, whose frequency is kept constant by means of tuning `fork control at a value which may be changed by 34a, shown in Fig. 2A. The rotation f disc 34 alternately allows a light beam from a lamp'32 to fall on a photoelectric cell 45, which may be ofthe gas-filled type, or blocks this beam oft.

Resistors 36, 31, 38 and 39, in circuit with said photocelLare selected of such values that when photocell 45 is not illuminated, the grid of the arc discharge tube 4 I, which may be a small thyratron, has a suiiiciently negativel value to prevent its discharging at the plate potential avail- -able from battery 43. However, when the photocell 45 is illuminated by the lamp 32, the resistance of the photocell is considerably decreased,

'thereby decreasing the negative bias on the grid both of the following conditions are satisfied:

`( 1) The battery 43 has charged the condenser 42 through the shown network of resistances, and

(2) .the photocell 45 is again illuminated.

The time necessary for the charging of the condenser 42 is given by a well-known exponential function of the product of a resistance involving values of resistances 33, 44, 36 and 31 by the capacity of the condenser 42.

If the capacity of condenser 42 -isincreasecL this time is increased, and'vice versa. In practice, the capacity of the condenser 42 may be set 'so that it is fully charged during the time interval betweentwo successive illuminations of photo.-

cell 45 through the openings in disc 34.` In such case, the tube 4 I will fire or ignite for every pasis increased so that it does not charge sulciently during the time interval between the passage of two successive slots in disc 34 by the photocell 45, the thyratron 4I will nre only on every second illumination of photocell 45.

In this manner, since every firing of tube 4| produces a voltage pulse'across resistor 40, and hence across output Vlilies 2 and 3, it is possible to obtain pulses from the apparatus which are timed by the slots in the disc 34 and may occur f at the frequency of the passage of these slots by the photocell 45, or at one-half, one-third, or

. 42,v or the constants of tube 4| can then cause sage of s 'slot-1n disc u bypnotoceil 45. 1t win be apparent that if the capacity of condenser 42.

variations or irregularities in the flringinterval. If further frequency changes arel desired, they can be obtained by replacing disc 3-4 witha disc having a different number of openings. For example, if the natural frequency of the tuning fork 21 is 60 cycles per second, and. if the synchronous motor 33 makes ve revolutions per second when controlled by a 6D cycle current, then a disc with 12 slots will maintain the oscillator at 60 cycles per second if the circuit constants are adjusted to produce firing at every slot passage, or at 30 cycles if firing occurs at every .other slot passage, or at 20 or 15 cycles, etc., in

submultiples of 60 cycles. By substituting a disc 'with 10 slots'for the 12-slot disc, the oscillator frequency can be maintained constant in the itive value tocause said tube 1I to re when the next pulse arrives from the master oscillator I to make lead 2 positive with regard -to leadv 3. YThe firing of tube 1I extinguishes the tube V1I) by means of condenser 52, in a manner well understood in electronics engineering. The grid o1 tube 1.2 now in turn becomes biased to a suiliciently positive value by the current flow through resistor 65 to permit said tube 12 to re upon the arrival of the next positive pulse on lead 2 with respect to lead 3, which ring of tube 12 will extinguishtube 1I by` means of condenser 53. vThe grid of tube 'l0 now-in its turn becomes positively biased by the current flow through resistor se, thereby permitting''said4 tube tonre r upon the next positive pulse on lead 2, with regard to lead 3, and' extinguishing tube 12. The

ring of tubes 1 0, 1 I and 12 in the cyclical order .described above.4 furnishes voltage pulses across resistors 64, B5 and B6, respectively, which are fedoverlines 5`-8, 6--3 and 1-8 to counter IP and relay operator II. Y f

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of'the'counter I0 of Fig. 1, connected by 1eads5 and 8 to the ring counter ,L of Fig. 3." Tubes 14 and 15 are thyratrons. 4Assume thyratron 14 to be tlring. The

plate current from vtube 14 through resistorV 84 biases-the `grid of thyratron to a sumciently positive value to cause a voltage pulse over lines 5-8 from the counter 4 (wire 5 being positive with respect to wire 8) to ignite tube 15, whereby the ,tube 14 is extinguished by the action of the condenser 86. The grid of tube 14 has now, however, a sufilciently positive bias due to the current flow through the resistor 85 to permit the next voltage pulse over lines 5-8 from counter 4 (wire 5 being positive with regard to wire 8) to ignite tube 14, whereby the tube will be extinguished bythe action of the condenser 86. The cycle is thereafter repeated. Leads I4 and I5 being connected to a load, namely, the primary windings of transformers 9|, 92, 93 and 94 of the thyratron commutator 9 shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and to the coil of the relay III, shown in Fig, 1, a current flow will be supplied to this load only while tube 15 isiiring, that is, during every other period between pulses arriving over lines 5 8. Therefore, considering counter I8 in combination with ring counter 4 and ,master oscillator I, it will be seen that current owsin lines I4 and I5 forthree cycles of the master oscillator, then is off for the next three cycles, etc.

Fig. 5 shows the current-switching commutator 9, connected to the D. C. source I6 by lines I1 and I8, to the counter I8 of Fig.4 by lines I4 and I5, and to the electrodes C1 and C2 by lines 28 and 2I. This commutator may comprise four large current carrying arc discharge or thyratron tubes 81, 88, 89 and 98, which are biased so that each thyratron willflre only whenapositive voltage pulse is applied to its grid.- 'Ihe primary windings of transformers 9|, 92, 93 and 94 are supplied with an approximately square wave current from lines I4 and I5, as may be seen from graph e of Fig. 1A. The secondary winding of each transformer is thuscaused to develop a sharp voltage pulse when current flow is initiated in the primary over lines I4-I5, and one of the opposite polarity when said current ilow is discontinued. The grids of tubes 81 and 98 are connected to the secondary windings of the transformers so as to receive pulses of what shall be called positive polarity when the primaries are supplied with current, that is, at a time when a current of an increasing intensity vilows through said primaries, while the grids of tubes 88 and 89 are connected to receive pulses of negative polarity during this same time. On the other hand, when the supply of current to the primaries is discontinued, that is, at a time when a current of a decreasing intensity is flowing through said primaries, the grids of tubes 88 and 89 will -receive pulses of positive polarity, while those of Vtubes 81 and 98 will receive pulses of negative polarity. Assume tubes 81'and 98 toA be ring, their grids having received a positive voltage pulse from transformers 9| and 94. In such case, the next positive pulse will be on the grids of tubes 88 and 89 from transformers 92 and 93, and will cause these tubes to fire, which action will extinguish tubes 81 and 98 by means of condenser 95. The voltage applied to the load (electrodes ('11 and Cz) will alternate in direction, since when tubes 81 and 98 are ring, line 28 is positive with respect to line 2|, and when tubes 88 and 89 are tiring, line 2| is positive with respect to line 28. In this way, direct current from generator or battery I8 is commutated to give a substantially square waveform current to the electrodes C1 and Cz at a/ frequency of one-sixth of that of the master oscillator I.

Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of the relay operator II. Tubes 91 and 98 are small arc discharge tubes or thyratrons. If tube 98 is ignited,

the flow of current in resistance IIO biases the grid of tube 91 so that a voltage pulse over lines 6-8 (wireI being positive with regard to wire 8) causes tube 91 to ignite, the resulting surge through condenser IIIII extinguishing thetilbe 98. When `the tube 91 is ring, the iiow of current through resistance |89 in turn biases tube 98 so that a voltage pulse over lines 1-8 ignites tube 98, whereby the cycle is continuously repeated. Since the tube 98 is passing current only vin the interval beginning with the arrival of the lvoltage pulse over lines 1-8 and ending with the arrival of the voltage pulse over lines ,Ii-8, a current ows in lines I2-I3-to relay I9 only during said in-v terval.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a system of electrical exploration, a commutator circuit comprising arc discharge tubes, a source of direct current connected to said circuit, a source of controlled frequency voltage pulses connected to said circuit, grounded current electrodes 4connected to said circuit, means for discharging said tubes b y applying thereto said voltage pulses, whereby the direction of the currentiiowing between the current electrodes is reversed, an indicating device, grounded potential electrodes connected tothe ,terminals thereof,

first relay means actuated by said voltage pulses i lfor reversing the connections between the potenl tial electrodes and the indicating device in synchronism with the reversalsof the current flowing between the current electrodes, and second relay means actuated by said voltage pulses to shortcircuit said indicating device during the current reversal periods.

2.' In a system for electrical exploration, a source of direct current, lan indicating device, current electrodes and potential electrodes in circuit with said source and said device,respective ly, an electronic commutator comprising an even plurality of arc discharge tubes in the circuit between said source and said current electrodes, inductive means for biasing the 'grids of said tubes, said inductive means being arranged for half of said tubes to give a positive bias change in response to a rise of current therethrough, and for the other half of said tubes to give a positive bias change in response to a fall of current there- Y through, condenser means connected between grid and filament elements o f said two groups of tubes to extinguish one of said groups when the other is ignited, means for producing unidirectional voltage pulses at a controlled constant frequency, means for applying said pulses to said inductive biasing means, whereby said two groups of tubes are alternately ignited, anda reversing substantially square wave form current is passed between'the current electrodes, a relay-operated reversing switch between the potential electrodes and the indicating device, and means to apply said voltage pulses to the winding of said relay, whereby the connections lbetween the/potential electrodes and thel indicating device are reversed in synchronism with the reversals of the current flowing between the current electrodes.

3. In an electrical exploration system consisting of a iirst circuit comprising a source of direct current, grounded current electrodes, and an electronic commutator adapted cally the direction of the current between said electrodes, and a second circuit comprising A grounded potential electrodes,` an indicating de- Ato reverse periodiaseaesv short-circuiting said indicating device, means for voltage pulses of a predetermined constant :requency, means for selecting from said series a pulse recurring at a periodic subirequency thereof, means for converting said pulse into an actuating pulse for the electronic commutator, means for applying said actuating pulse to said commutator, thereby periodically reversing the direction of the current between the current electrodes, means for applying said puise to said rst relay means, thereby reversing the connections between the potential electrodes and the indicating producing a. continuous series of unidirectional device in synchronism with the reversals of the current between the current electrodes, means for selecting from said series of pulses at least two other pulses recurring at 'periodic equal 4subfrequencies thereof, means of converting said pulses into a single actuating pulse for said second relay means, and means for applying said pulse to said second relay means, whereby said indicating device is short-circuited in synchronism with the reversals of the current between the current electrodes.

i DAVID SAVIILE MUZZEY, Jn.

ROBERT DU WAYNE MILLER. 

